Fire-extinguishing apparatus.



6. IBM- Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

CHARLES H. MEIGS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MACANDREWS AND FORBES COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application filed August 6, 1917. Serial N 0. 184,603.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Mnrcs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus, pertaining more particularly to apparatus for carrying into elfect the foam-extinguishing process.

The foam-extinguishing process involves the commixing of two solutionsone soda and the other acidone or both of the solutions carrying an ingredient active in the production of foam when the solutions are commixed to permit the chemical reaction of the solution ingredients. A well-known formula for producing the solutions is that pointed out in the patent to Walker, No. 1,161,090, producing what is known commercially as foamite. In use, substantially equal quantities of the solutions are brought together, the chemical reactions causing the production of a foam compound noxious to fire, the foam condition remaining for a considerable length of time and then deteriorating. The highest efi'iciency is therefore had where the compound is placed on the fire as soon as the reaction is approximately complete, thus permitting the active compound to be serviceable throughout substantially the life of the bubbles.

A simple and inexpensive way in which these results can be obtained is pointed out in the application of Frank A. Epps, Serial N 0. 160,458, wherein the solutions are main tained separate in the form of charges carried by a bucket, the charges being relatively arranged so that as the contents of the bucket are dashed toward the point of applicationthe firethe charges will intersect and commingle, thus permitting commixture of the solutions and the desired chemical reaction of the solution ingredients. This form of apparatus provides an effective substitute for the ordinary fire pail, the several solutions being carried by the pail when not in use-deterioration of solutions is slow when maintained separate thus rendering the pail serviceable at all times, with the standing pail handy to be dashed on the fire Without requiring any material prior manipulation to place it in active service.

The present invention is designed more particularly to carry out the Epps process referred to, and pertains more particularly to an arrangement of pail which will not only provide for the efiicient commixture of the solutions referred to in said application, but which will, in addition, permit of the use of a pail of ordinary construc-, tion, permit of the formation of the charges in a simple manner, and render cleaning, etc., to be accomplished in a simpler way. Other objects are to produce a structure which is simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction, and which can be manufactured at relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views,

Figure 1' is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, the inner container being shown as removed and having a wall broken away to show the interior.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the inner container in position.

In the present invention four charges are provided, two charges being of one solution, the other two of the second solution. These charges are each carried in compartments in the pail, the charges being preferably ar ranged as shown in Fig. 2, A indicating the charges of one solution and B the charges of the other solution. As will be seen, adjacent charges are from different solutions while opposite compartments contain the same solution. In dumping or dashing the contents, solution A will commingle with solution B, producing a commixture of the solutions and reaction of the chemical ingredients. The compartments are preferably produced in the following manner:

5 indicates a pail of the usual fire bucket type, having handle 6 by means of which the pail contents may be readily dumped or and more particularly dashed. 7 indicates a removable member, approximately of 8-shape or hour-glass configuration in plan, this member having a bottom 9, both pail and member, however, having open tops. Member 7 is insertible in the pail, and the tops of the two elements are substantially on the same plane. Member 7 may be removably secured in position in the pail in any suitable manner, a simple arrangement being by the use of spring fingers 10 carried by the pail and projecting inwardly, member 7 being readily inserted and positioned beneath the fingers by shifting the member angularly to carry the outer boundaries below or away from the fingers when it is desired to insert or remove the member, the fingers being readily raised to permit the side walls of the member to pass. Obviously, fingers 10 may be carried by a ring on the pail. Or other forms of structures may be employed, carried, for instance by member 7 and adapted to engage the pail.

WVhile I have shown member 7 as forming two practically separate compartments, it is obvious that inasmuch as both compartments contain the same solution, the compartments may be connected by a passageway extending the full depth of the member, if desired. It will be understood, of course, that the outer boundaries of member 7 practically conform to the contour of the pail, as shown in Fig. 2.

As will be understood, pail 5 carries one solution and member 7 the other. Insertion of member 7 into position divides the contents of the pail into two charges-indicated as solution Amember 7 carrying the charges of solution B. In practice, it is preferred that member 7 carry the acid solution.

When the pail is being prepared, the soda solution of desired amount is placed in the pail, and a substantially similar amount of the companion solution is placed in member 7 where the latter has its compartments separated the solution is divided between the compartments. Member 7 is then placed in position, dividing the pail solution into the two charges properly positioned regardless of the particular position which member 7 may occupy, there being no requirement that the latter be located at any set position other than that its bottom rest on the bottom of the bucket or pail. I

, If desired, member 7 may be formed provided with means by which it can be readily grasped by the hands or an implement to permit its being readily carried about, in serted or removed. 7

It is also to be understood that a suitable readily displaceable cover may be applied, if desired, as for instance indicated in the ltpps arrangements.

When it is "desired to renew the solutions,

it is necessary only to separate the member from the pail, whereupon each is readily cleaned without liability of foam genera tion by commixture of portions of the solutions. By making the acid container removable as a unit, it can be carried to any desired point for dumping and cleaning without necessitating the carriage of the pail and its contents which can be dumped at a difierent point, thus providing for efficient cleaning when it is desired to renew the solutions after they have been standing for some months and are unused.

By this general arrangement member 7 may be sold as a separate article of manufacture, being of a standard size adapted to fit the usual fire pail also of standard size, thus enabling the latter to be employed as a part of the apparatus for practising the foam-extinguishing process. Obviously this will greatly reduce the cost of installation of the system in place of the water pail system now generally employed.

While I have shown the outer container as of circular contour and the inner container of substantially S-shape configuration with the outer boundaries of the latter conforming to the contour of the outer container-due to a desire to make use of the usual fire pail structureit will be understood that these configurations may be more or less varied to meet the exigencies and desires of use, and I reserve the right to make such changes or modifications therein as may seem desirable or necessary, the essential features being the use of an outer container, and a removable inner container, the latter having its walls arranged insuch manner as to divide the contents of the outer container into two charges arranged opposite each other and spaced apart by the oppositely-disposed charges of the inner container, each container carrying the 7 same solution. And the term 8 -shaped container or member is considered as including all structures adapted to produce this result, regardless of variation in shape while producing the same general efiect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Apparatus for extinguishing fires by a venting solution commixture while the charges are within the containers, and means for normally retaining the containers in nested relation, whereby the containers will carry different solutions and when nested. will provide solution charges relatively positioned to produce solution commixture when the contents of both containers are dashed toward the point of application.

2. Apparatus for extinguishing fires by a foam-extinguishing compound formed from a plurality of solutions and wherein the component solutions are normally maintained separate and brought together to produce the compound, said apparatus comprising an outer container having an open top, a removable inner container of 8-shape configuration in plan and having an open top, and means for removably securing the inner container in nested position within the outer container, the configurations of the containers difiering from each other.

3. As a means for rendering a fire pail applicable for service in the foam-extinguishing process, a container of S-shape or hour-glass configuration in plan and having its outer boundaries substantially corresponding in contour with walls of the fire pail and means for removably positioning the container within and in nested relation to the fire pail.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a container for a solution of a fire extinguishing compound, said container having an open top and being of substantially 8-shape or hour-glass configuration in plan.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIS D. WITTER, F. A. EPPs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

